The little girl with a curl

Well I was thinking about Ireland while I was out walking and the phrase "when she was good she was very very good, but when she was bad she was horrid" came to mind, but I couldnt remember the rhyme it came from, thanks to google however I found it. Spring and early summer here is very very nice, when its not hailing and blowing a gale anyway. I have 3 bikes out on hire, first ones for ages, so it looks like I may not make the Forbes List this year again, Carlos Slim Helu is at the top with $74 Billion, have you ever heard of him? I hadn't. Mind you theres a bloke in 103rd, spot worth $8.8 Billion, they havent even got a photo of, hes called Pallonji Mistry and the source of his wealth is construction lets hope he hasnt lost any of it in the current Real Estate disaster that is Ireland. Ok Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit Rob why dont you tell the nice ladies and gentlemen a funny wee story about postcodes or summat?

Ok I thought about it for a while but danged if I can think of anything funny to say about postcodes.

Close encounters of the pertol pump kind

We took the dogs to a beach at Rynville and they had a swim in the sea and I picked up some great round cat sized rocks perfect for painting cat door stoppers. Got the car petrol digital readout down to 2 km to empty before putting 50 Euros worth in in and bringing the gauge up to about quarter full, then I proceeded to reverse into the petrol pump, I know, it wasn't my proudest moment. What made it even worse was Angie said "Watch out behind". She fooled me as normally when she says that there is a bus 300 meters away or a dog half a mile away. Anyway the petrol pump person hadn't noticed but being the silly honest sausage that I am I went and fessed up so there were pictures taken and probably my insurance will go up by 10,000 Euros a month.

I saw a figure on the hillside pointing out to sea dressed in black plastic bags it turned out to be a scarecrow, this is Ireland and I thought it could maybe be some religious symbol.

There were no crops or anything needing scared, apart from some kids at a dilapidated  caravan park up the road.

Other things we saw were a nice view and a donkey, shame I hadn't seen the petrol pump.

Sky TV

I have the Sky tv repair man here today as my dish is acting up, it looks like he will have to get up on the roof and put a new one up, I dont envy him as this house is huge and its like being up 3 stories and its still windy to cap it off. It was the usual "I'll be there sometime between 8 am and 4 pm" carry on, not that it bothered me today as I didnt have any work on but he also ended up calling me 4 times for directions to the house lol NO POSTCODES strikes again.

I phoned my Mom earlier and they had had the gale that came through here as well, all the leaves in their garden that survived the wind are damaged by salt spray and have turned black, such a shame as my Dad has nice roses usually. The hedge here between ourselves and Eon has made a recovery and is in full bloom after everyone thinking it was dead, I have got a few bushes etc that did die but the rest of the garden is looking well, exceptional actually for a rented garden.

The Sky techy just finished and drove off leaving his rubbish lieing all over the garden and bits of wire throughout the house grrrrrrrrrrrrr I hate that. This guy was an unfriendly sod too, Eastern European I recon and not happy in his job, he should try earning nothing for a wee while. Ohh well will give me something to do tidy up after him.

Sunrise

Well I awoke this morning to sunlight streaming in the window, no I didnt sleep in, sunrise here is at 0520 and  I hadn't closed the blinds properly last night. It was lovely to see the sun after what has been a dreich wet windy old week. Anyway by the time I showered, repaired the hotpress airing cupboard shelves, that the plumber had taken to bits then decided it wasnt his job to replace, put on a washing, filled the bird feeder and had a coffee we are back into rain again lol. It looks like showers right enough and its not half as windy as it was.

President Obama got in touch with his Irish side and got into the grog yesterday on his visit, was great to see how open and how genuine he seems. He started with a joke, "My name is Barack Obama of the Moneygall Obamas." Monegall is a place in Donegal, ohh Donegal is a place in Ireland btw. He was introduced by the Irish Prime minister "The 44th president is different - because, ladies and gentlemen, he doesn't just speak about the American dream, he is the American dream!" The show that Donegal put on for the guy wont do any harm for tourism either. 

hard hat required

Well I could have done with a hard hat today walking through the woods there were branches and whole trees crashing down, it was quite impressive. My greenhouses are still standing, so far lol, it will be a shame if they take off as I'm not far off getting my first baby tomatoes. I have Toms, Cucumber,Pumpkin, Capsicum and Chilli, sprouting away fine style.

I have been cat sitting this weekend, my life seems to be one long animal care session this weather, ohh well I'd miss them if I didn't have any I suppose.

OK whats for lunch Rob ? Well I have some Corriander growing on the kitchen window sill and some spuds left over from last night and some chilli and an egg and a tin of tuna, maybe have a hamburger ehh kidding kidding. I've been having too many hamburgers I'm afraid and have turned into Mr Blobby. Whoever came up with the phrase "fatty people are happy people" needs their head examining.

The religious broadcaster who made the world's biggest mistake, twice, is bewildered that things did not go according to his prediction and the world did not end at 6 pm on May 21.
Harold Camping, whose radio network is reported to be worth between USD 70 million and USD 120 million, was nowhere to be seen publicly Sunday after his prediction didn't come true. Predicting things is great until the things you predict dont turn out then you look a right Goose ehh. I'm feeling quite good about myself as this is  the fifth end of the world I've survived.

giggle

Orville Smith, a store manager for Best Buy in Augusta , Georgia , told police he observed a male customer, later identified as Tyrone Jackson of Augusta , on surveillance cameras putting a laptop computer under his jacket... When confronted the man became irate, knocked down an employee, drew a knife and ran for the door.
Outside on the sidewalk were four Marines collecting toys for the "Toys for Tots" program. Smith said the Marines stopped the man, but he stabbed one of the Marines, Cpl. Phillip Duggan, in the back; the injury did not appear to be severe.
After Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene Cpl. Duggan was transported for treatment.
The subject was also transported to the local hospital with two broken arms, a broken ankle, a broken leg, several missing teeth, possible broken ribs, multiple contusions, assorted lacerations, a broken nose and a broken jaw...injuries he sustained when he slipped and fell off of the curb after stabbing the Marine

Rain, wind and a three leaf clover.

Well this is more like the weather I was expecting from the West coast of Ireland its peeing doon and blowin a gale. The msn forecast has sunny with light showers lol I think thats a drive to attract tourism, then when they get here sell them umbrellas with three leaf clovers on them. I did a website recently and put a four leaf clover on it only to be asked to change it for a three leafed one. The meaning of a 4-leaf clover is commonly known as luck, however the 3 leaf clover's meaning is happiness. Now people spend all their time looking through fields of clover looking for that one little bit of 'luck' and sometimes never find it, but they look right past the obvious, that there is 'happiness' all around them, that they can find that happiness in anything and everything, their work, their family, their friends, their life. People are so hell-bent on looking for the luck though. Its also is Ireland's most recognized National Symbol. In mind of this St. Patrick used to the Shamrock to explain the concept of the holy trinty.

I made a facebook page for ROBBO'S bike hire and have been adding photos of the surrounding area to it.

Selling the trailer

Well I'm debateing selling the bike trailer, to the Sudaneese, every time I put the blinkin thing out as an advert, it has a bike on top of it and my tel numbers, it rains, and I know they could do with rain in the Nubian desert. Did you know there is a nose type called Nubian too, interesting ehh. One of the most visible parts of the human body is the human nose. It is the protruding part of the face that has nostrils. There are different kinds of noses that can be found. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum which mainly consist cartilage.

The Roman or Aquiline Nose: This type of nose is convex in shape, like a hook. It is also known as 'hooknose' because of its shape. The word aquiline is derived from the Latin word 'aquilinus' which means 'eagle like'.

 The Greek or Straight Nose. This type of nose is perfectly straight with no curves or hooked like shape. It is known as Greek nose because it is generally noticed that the Greek people have this kind of nose.

 The Nubian Nose: This type of nose has wide nostrils. It is generally a little narrow at the top, thick and broad at the middle and wide at the end. The term 'Nubian' comes from the ethnic group 'Nubians' who belong to northern Sudan.

 The Hawk Nose: The hawk nose is so called because it is very convex, to the extent that it almost looks like a bow. It is very thin and sharp as well. Since it resembles the beak of a Hawk, it is known as the hawk nose.

 Snub Nose: This type of nose is quite short in length and is neither sharp, nor hook like nor wide. It is almost as short as a nose possibly can be. Hence, it is known as snub nose

The turn up Nose: This type of nose is also called as the Celestial nose. It is so called because it runs continuously from the eyes towards the tip.

Mine is Squashed Greek Aquiline.

Theres an amazing amount of timber left to rot in our forestry and woods, I was asking around to see if there is anyway I could get some but they would rather see it rot than be taken for firewood. I'd have been quiet keen to pay to go in and fill my trailer, anyway I'll sneak in, oops no I shant I wouldnt do that. Jessy has to stay on the lead when we are out walking now as she has been getting wind of something she wants to eat or chase and has been running off, not sure if its baby bunnies or what but shes desperate and wont listen to me calling her back. 

Charity the bear has been missing in action the last few months but I think she is back in the post, hope so anyway.

DIDN’T even know that Azerbaijan was in Europe. Apparently it joined in 2008. And now Azerbaijan has stolen the Eurovision from Ireland’s energetic, happy twins Jedward. WTG we couldnt afford to host the comp next year anyway so its just as well. I've never been a Eurovision song contest fan and I'm not a fan of Jedward, bless their cotton socks, but they certainly have heaps of energy on stage or so I'm told

I laughed at a radio commentator this morning that was amazed at the size of the Catholic Population of Azerbaijan, 250 people. 98% of the country is Muslim I wonder what they will think about the expossure of middrifts and lack of designer burkas.

I have a dilema regarding buying a house, in the past I have owned and never lost money on property, but on retrospect the amount I have spent on interest repayments cancels out the profits made. Property here lost 12% last year and forcasts are for further drops as interest rates go up and a new water rates tax is introduced. Maybe its better to rent and invest the money, mind you its a real buyers market here and I could get a nice house for cash and not have to worry about morgage rates or rents going up. To Buy or Not to Buy that is the question. I think the services of a financhial advisor are required, but finding one to listen to in Ireland well would you? Ohh the real estate agent was telling me the other day it takes a minimum of 3 months to settle a house sale here 12 weeks after the offer is accepted, fawr goodness sake, ohh by the way they are thinking of introducing postcodes here they could be in by as early as the year 2045.

Duffers week

Well I went dapping with my pal Keith Geoghegan and another friend of his from Durham, had a sort of dreich day with heavy squalls and fishing was hard work but enjoyable all the same. Went ashore at lunchtime built a fire and cooked steak sandwiches, 2 huge sirloins each with onions and slabs of bread cooked on the boat frying pan with mole grips for a handle. This couple of weeks are called Duffers weeks as the mayfly hatch and the ease of technique in fishing them can be done by any duffer with success, apart from this one lol. I got a couple of rises all day and that was it, I suppose thats why its called "fishing" and not "catching"

Angies credit card was compromised and she lost almost 3000 Euro, she saw a transaction for 998 Euro and asked me what I'd been buying, as if I would spend that without asking, but anyway thankfully it turned out to be her card not mine that had been compromised.

The hot water heater developed a leak and I had water coming out of a light fitting in the kitchen yesterday, so we have no hot water untill its replaced. I miss my morning shower.

I went to view 3 houses for sale yesterday evening, and have another 4 to look at on Saturday, this one http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=536023  has my vote so far although the gardens in the other two were bigger / better. Mind you bigger means more lawnmowing ehh.

Bingo chase is on

Nope I'm not gambling, Mark next door has a cat called Bingo, it got out earlier,into our garden and Jessy was off after it, followed by Mark followed by me slightly behind but hoping like mad she wasnt going to eat it as I know how much Mark loves his cats. Thankfully the cat got away but it hasnt gone home yet so I hope it will. Bingo was saved during the real cold weather in December when Mark captured him and another wee cat that were living rough.

The weather turned a bit showery and windy last two days which has been great for the mayfly fishermen, my pal Keith is going to take me out "dapping" next Tuesday or Wednesday. The showery windy weather is excellent for catching initially the bait, mayfly as they hatch and if its windy they cant take off and are washed ashore, and the rain is good for the trout. My other neighbour has been catching an average of 3 or 4 a day.

I see Paul has found a new fiance, two legs and 10 yrs younger than him, wtg Paul

Gorse fires

Well this spring has been the driest for between 30 and 40 years, the winter was mega dry too mind you it was down to minus 12C, glad we came back for this year as its been awesome, I have just had shorts on for the last few weeks, well actually I had socks and a shirt on too, gawd forbid the man breasts see the light of day. Unfortunately the dry weather has led to gorse fires > 200 over the UK and Ireland.
Thousands of firefighters were last night desperately battling against large infernos that have forced people from their homes in districts across several counties in Ireland and I can smell smoke in the air here like I used to in Australia.

Still on the smoke topic, smokers anxious to sneak a last drag before catching their flight will now have to fork out another £1 coin to get their fix. For just over a week smokers passing through Belfast airport have had to pay to enter a specially-constructed addition to the airport building. So I think smokes are about 45 cents each here so Euro 1.68 per cig phew. My new yacht was paid for by money saved by not smoking this last 5 years.

I've been trying to reduce my Prendisone intake and have been down to 3.5 mg this last two weeks but sheeze I'm sore all over and may have to doze up again :(

2 days sailing with brilliant weather

Well the fine spell continues and the boat got a good workout, although the kennel was full so we didnt stay away. I'm on a hunt for a good anchorage/wharf, close to a pub, that I can stay away at and get on the razzle. Went to a wee place called Kilbeg which has a great wee sheltered harbour, its over the other side of the loch through some scary narrows that you can almost touch the stone navigation beacons unfortunately its pub is closed. However just across the bay there is another wharf called Knockferry and there is a house about 700 meters up the road called "Jenny's" or summat that if you rap hard on the door they let you in and sell booze lol. One of the things that hasnt changed here is the "lock in" I may have blogged before about my pal Keith asking the barman at the local here "what time do you close"? he was told "midnight" and Keith responded "its 0130" to a response "Its a work in progress to be sure"

I was preparing veg last night for dinner, had a roast beef with Yorkshire puddings, roast spuds, pumpkin, brussels, carrots, cauliflower etc, anyway I had peeled the spuds and picked up a couple of carrots, I have a peeler that sort of shaves the skin off the veg, its great for carrots as you can just rub it up and down and it takes a very thin shaving off the skin, anyway rubbing two carrots together doesnt do the same thing, as I discovered while I daydreamed looking out the kitchen window. What am I saying? yes ok I was standing there rubbing two carrots together.

Ok see if you can work out what the heck these have in common, I model bananas, Be a Slain Nomad, A lesbian nomad, Sane Oilman Bad, A mob insane lad, Is a lone, bad man. Yep they are all anograms of Osama Bin Laden, Id say RIP but its probably better if he doesnt. Well done President Obama.